she gets scared?

Question
I have an almost 2 y/o pointer mix who has been house trained for over a year, we've moved around alot and she had accidents in new places sometimes but since we moved into this house with a fenced backyard a few months ago she never had any accidents until recently. I'm afraid my roommate may have given her reason to be scared of him because one afternoon a few weeks ago we were on the couch together and when he came in the door quickly she peed on herself and the couch, and sat their all crouched up in it. Since then she had an accident while we were over visiting at my parents house, and chose to relieve herself on my shoes. This evening she was once again sitting on the couch with me and a car door was slammed next door and she jumped up barking and had left the couch soaked. So I've been wondering if there is any medical reason I should be concerned with relating to her accidents or if I need to just keep giving her attention and reassurance and keep her away from my roommate?

Answer
It may just be submissive urination, in which case you need to try to ignore it (difficult, I know!) and not make a big deal of it. At two, she is not quite an adult. Is she spayed? Some dogs get spay incontenence from the decrease in estrogen, in which case your vet can help you with medicines to strengthen her bladder muscles. She probably also needs a urinalysis to make sure she's not cooking a urinary tract infection or stones. Do you absolutely trust that your room mate isn't doing anything to frighten her (sometimes people can, even unintentionally, and some people do things to dogs when you aren't around that they wouldn't if you were there. I don't know this person, so can't say. But if you have any doubts at all, I'd be consider changing my living arrangements. I'd also do a thyroid test and have her checked for tick borne diseases (Lyme and Ehrlichia) which can cause nervousness and behavior changes. Good luck! Sandy Case MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com